International Data Sounds a Warning

Clip Transcript

NARRATOR:
To imagine how the US will do tomorrow, we need only ask how its children are doing today. International data sounds a warning. Across multiple dimensions, the wellbeing of our children ranks 26 out of 29 nations. It all begins in infancy.

Parker, child:

A baby has a brain! We all have brains! They make you think… make you talk, make you walk…

The development of the brain is laid down in the early years well before children start school, even before they start talking. Everything starts from the bottom-up.

Parker:

The base holds everything up.

Jack Shonkoff:

If we don’t do it right early, it’s harder later. We pay more for it later and we don’t get as good an outcome.

NAR:
40% of our five year olds are not ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. 75% of all young adults are not qualified for military service. In 1970, the U.S. ranked 1st in high school and college graduation rates. Today we’ve fallen to 23rd in high school graduation, 19th in college graduation.